MANILA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday rolled out the on-line version of its Statistical Database System (SDBS), a key database of social, economic and financial indicators of its developing member countries.

    The database, developed and maintained by ADB's Economics and Research Department, contains data from 1988 onwards and will be a major resource and analytical tool for policymakers, academics, researchers and journalists interested in issues and challenges facing Asia and the Pacific, ADB said in a report.

    The launch of the on-line version of SDBS will underscore ADB's role as a key knowledge bank for developing member countries in the region, said the report.

    To help users in navigating the website, an easy access on-line facility has been developed, the report said.